Tuulikki Class Cruiser
Image of Ship, And no, it's not resized.
Type: Nuclear Guided Missile Cruiser
Displacement (Full): 18,000t
Length: (Overall): 190m
Beam: (Overall): 21m
Design Draught: 15m
Block Coefficient: .301
Propulsion:
2x D2G Nuclear Reactors
2x Steam turbines (90MW overall)
2x Controllable Pitch Propellers
2x Bow thrusters
Speed: 60 km/h
Range: Virtually Unlimited
Endurance: 90 days
Armament:
1x Oto Melara 127 mm/54 Compact
1x Bofors 57mm Mark 3
3x Mk 144 Guided Missile Launcher (21x RIM-116 RAM ea.)
2x Mk 38 25mm Autocannon
24x Strike Length 8-Cell Mk41 VLS (192 Cells)
Countermeasures:
4x 6-round Seagnat Mk 36 chaff launchers
2x AN/SLQ-25A Nixies
Complement: 40 Officers, 370 Enlisted, 40 Marines (Optional)
Sensors & Electronics:
BAE Systems CMS-1 Scalable Combat Management System
Thales APAR (I-Band)
SMART-L (L-Band w/ D-band IFF)
Thales Nederland Scout Mk2 (Surface Search & Navigation Radar)
Atlas Elektronik DSQS-24C hull-mounted sonar
Aircraft:
1x Sikorsky CH53 Sea Stallion (Or similar size)
Cost: 2.8bn standard dollars

Write-up

Designed to replace aging Destroyers and Cruisers in service with the Riemaian navy, the Tuulikki class Cruiser is designed to be multipurpose, but is labeld as a Guided Missile Cruiser due to its numerous amount of VLS tubes. The Tuulikki class Cruiser is a heavy mix between the USS Long Beach, De Zeven Provinciën class "Frigate" and the Ticonderoga Class Cruiser, capable of fighting independently of a fleet or just as well, if not better, in the presence of allied ships.

Armaments

The main gun of the Tuulikki class Cruiser is a Oto Melara 127mm/54 Compact gun, made by the Italian company Oto Melara, weighing 37,500 kilograms without ammunition, and is equipped with three loader drums, holding 66 ready-to-fire shells. The three loader drums are automatically feed with more ammunition, even while the gun is in operation by two hoists manually loaded from the magazine. The Oto Melara 127mm/54 Compact capable of firing the "Vulcano" guided and unguided extended range, non-rocket boosted, sub-caliber shell. The unguided "Vulcano" shell is capable of being accurate in anti-shipping duties at up to 30km and shore bombardment at up to 70km, while the IMU/GPS guided shell is accurate against shore targets at up to 100km. For normal shells, the Oto Melara 127mm/54 Compact is capable of firing up to ranges of 30 kilometers.

The secondary gun aboard the Tuulikki class Cruiser is a Bofors 57mm Mark 3 DP gun, made by the Swedish defense company BAE Systems AB, weighing 7,500 kilograms without ammunition. The Bofors 57mm Mark 3 gun is capable of firing the Bofors 57mm 3P all target programmable munition. The gun is also equipped with a small radar mounted onto the gun barrel to determine muzzle velocity. The Bofors 57mm Mark 3 gun boasts a rate of fire of 220 round per minute, and has a total of 120 rounds ready to fire at any time.

Near the stern of the ship are two Mk 38 25mm autocannons, one on each side. These autocannons are on the ship to defend itself from small ships that stray too close that were not perceived to be a threat before they strayed into range.

The VLS capabilities for the Tuulikki are all located to the bow of the ship, behind the main and secondary guns and in front of the main superstructure. In total, there are 192 VLS tubes separated into 24 Mk41 eight-cell launchers, all of which are strike-length and filled as per user requirements. A 64-cell Mk41 VLS system has the dimensions of 8.7m*6.3m*7.7m, or 2m*3.1m*7.7m for an eight-cell module. The Mk41 VLS is capable of readying two missiles simultaneously per eight-cell module for fast reaction to multiple threats with concentrated, continuous firepower. For safety purposes, the launchers are capable of surviving a full motor burn of a restrained missile in case of launcher door failure.

There are three Mk 144 Guided Missile Launchers aboard, with twenty-one RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles in each launcher, for a total of 63 RAMs. Each launcher is networked into the ships Combat Management System, Which also has the ships radars networked into it, giving the effect of an automated missile-based CIWS to the ship.

Propulsion

The ship is propelled by two variable pitch propellers, which are powered by two D2G nuclear reactors, with a combined maximum thermal output of 300 megawatts. With the two reactors running and its two steam turbines split, the cruiser will be able to reach its maximum speed of 60km/h, while if one reactor is running and the steam plants are cross connected, the ship will be able to reach 45km/h. The D2G reactors are vertically and axially boron-doped for a longer core life and even power distribution with no hot spots respectably.

The ship is also equipped with two bow thrusters that are designed to decrease the ships turn radius at low speeds and make docking procedures less of a hassle while in port.

Electronics

The main piece of electronics aboard the Tuulikki is it's BAE Systems Scalable Combat Management System, which provides the ships command with all the functionality it needs to efficiently operate the ship. It is fully scalable for all warship classes and its open architecture, which is based on commercial soft and hardware, which allows for easy upgrading and support of new systems. In the case of the Tuulikki class, the Radars and weapons are networked together to allow for automated and command firing of missiles and guns for quicker response times to incoming threats.

The main radar aboard is the Thales Nederland-developed APAR, which consists of four fixed arrays that each have 3424 transmit/receive modules. The combination of transmit/receive modules in the arrays can generate narrow beams that can be pointed in any direction within a cone of about 120 degrees in azimuth and 70 degrees in elevation. Combined, the four arrays cover a full 360 degrees. The APAR is capable of tracking 200 air targets out to 150km, 150 surface targets out to 75km, and can guide up to 32 semi-active radar homing missiles in flight simultaneously.

Partnered with the APAR is the L-band SMART-L long range search radar, which has a maximum range of 480km with ELR Mode. The array consists of 24 elements, all of which receive, but only 16 of which form virtual receiver beams. The SMART-L is capable of tracking up to 1000 airborne targets and up to 100 seaborne targets. The SMART-L is also capable of detecting low RCS cruise missiles at 65km away. At a height of 21 meters above the waterline, the SMART-L is capable of detecting targets five meters above the surface at a range of 28 kilometers away.

The Thales Nederland Scout Mk2 is a short range Low Probability of Intercept surface acquisition and tactical navigation radar. The Scout Mk2 employs the Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave principle, enabling it to "see without being seen" due to its very low power requirements, and because of that, the Scout Mk2 can be used in radar silence areas with little to no risk of being detected.

Finally, the ship is equipped with a Atlas Elektronik DSQS-24C hull mounted sonar array, which is placed in the bow bulge. The Atlas Elektronik DSQS-24C is used for detecting submersed vessels at ranges averaging forty kilometers.

Countermeasures

The ship is equipped with four Seagnat chaff and flare filled rockets that fire when an enemy missile is closing on the ship. Each unit has six launchers that can be loaded to defend against specific threats. The rockets are designed to cause enemy missiles to either miss the ship entirely or prematurely detonate a safe distance away from the ship.

Also aboard are two AN/SLQ-25A Nixies, which is located at the aft of the ship, underneath the landing pad. The AN/SLQ-25A Nixie is a towed torpedo decoy that is designed to defeat a torpedoes passive sonar homing by emulating ship noises, such as running propellers, which is more attractive to the torpedo than the noises of actual ship.

Other Stuff

The Tuulikki is equipped with two 9 meter long RHIBs, which can be used for (but not limited to) rescues at sea, nighttime infiltration of enemy waters, and boarding other vessels.

The Tuulikki also has a landing pad for one Sikorsky CH53 Sea Stallion (or similar sized helicopter) and a retractable hangar. The helicopter is capable of but not limited to Search and Rescue, Personnel & Cargo Transport, Minesweeping, Boarding Actions and of course Aerial Patrols.

The Tuulikki features unisex berthing for all crew members, with all enlisted personnel requiring to share bunks with other enlisted crew while they are on-duty. Officers are given small cabins they share with three other officers, for a total of four officers per cabin. Full toilet and shower accommodations are available throughout the entire ship, with showers being located centrally within the living quarters area while toilets are located throughout the entire vessel. The ship is also equipped with a small rec room with seating for forty people, equipped with satellite television, a combination blu-ray & betamax tape player, and limited wi-fi capabilities for laptops and similar portable devices.

Finally, the Tuulikki class Cruisers have enough storage for ninety days worth of provisions before it has to dock in port or be resupplied by an AOR or AOE.

Nicely done, most of which I've said on MSN already. ;) However, further looks make me wonder about possibly making room for 324mm torpedo tubes for close-in ASW or anti-mine defenses; plus as-drawn the sponsons for the waist-mounted 25mm autocannons give the impressions that the 57mm Bofors would reasonably fit as well. If so, might it be a good idea to just standardize secondary-gunnery on the mix of 3x57mm guns and 4xMGs; rather than 1x57mm, 2x25mm and 4xMGs? :huh:

Well, the ship can carry VL-ASROCs, as for mines, the helicopter can perform minesweeping duties, and the 57mm idea, the magazines would cut into the reactor rooms, and thats no fun! and where did you get the 4xMGs? :P

LOL sry, still waking up :blink: ; I think I got the MGs from the Exertus-class Cutter you drew instead. So yeah... disregard my last post seeing as no particular issues remain, if my proposed solutions to them would either not work (magazines in the reactor, wut?) or else you don't think they're needed.

I haven't readed the description yet, I'm busy ATM. But on the image I do got the following (and I'll comment like it's shipbucket, since this is a shipbucket drawing): first of all, you use the old model APAR. Newest one by Acelancelot is here. http://www.shipbucket.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=1307

That radar on top of there is not the SMART-L, by far its not. I don't even know what it is then, but the real SMART-L can be found in the same thread I just linked.

Secondly, I'm not sold about the RAM placement. With CIWS you want to keep your number of launchers as low as possible while still covering the 360 degree arc. That can be done much more easely with just 2 RAMs. That RAM on top of the hangar, behind the other one? Its view is simply obstructed by the other RAM.

There appears to be little space for a proper reactor and good crew amenities, but that might be just me. It's not out of the ballpark but lengthening it wouldn't hurt.

The ship isn't very "stealthy". Not that it needs to be, but... Looking at the time era you may want to look into that.

Why is there an outboard staircase? Why not indoors?

Lastly, and yes I know this isn't very NSDish, why do you have the "dotting" pattern?

I just picked what looked correct, but i will edit the image when i get a chance. (and thanks for pointing that out btw, much appreciated)

As for the RAMs, I prefer to have more, and i picture the farthest back ones moreso covering the rear of the ship, with the ones more forward up covering the midsection, and the farthest forward one covering the front sides. I know more isn't usually better, but if you start getting missile spammed, it might be good. Technically its not on top of the hangar, since the hangar is retractable.


The spacing, yea I think thats just you on that one.

I didn't design it with low RCS in mind, so no go on that one im afraid.

Outboard staircase, I don;'t really know why I added it in, just for fun i suppose. (there are inboard staircases as well)

The dotting patters is my way of being mildly creative, and to make it look like it has a slightly darker (or lighter) shade without actually having one.

Mind you this one fact, I RP my people as being terrible shipbuilders, so any problems can be said to be IC in nature even if they are my fault.

The idea of mounting both a 57mm and a 5" seems more than littl redudant especially given the abundance of RAM laucnhers.

of course the large number of RAM laucnhers does seem superflous given the number of dedicated ESSM tubes you have, is there are a particular reason why all your MK.41s aren;t the same length? it woudl seem that it isn;t a space issue given thier location.

Also why 8 bow thursters?

They aren't all the same length to force a minimum amount of ESSMs, and due to some of the massive scale battles out there, I feel like its for the best to have them.

Also because the ESSMs are for medium range targets while the RAMs are for short range targets.

The bow thrusters were from when it was a one-shaft design, but I decided to keep them to decrease the turn radius of the ship, and to make docking less of a hassle in cramped ports. It might just be four, but i will have to check with the person who I asked to lineart that portion to make sure.

Just checked again, you now have a different but still wrong APAR. That one is the prototype version.

If it is missile spam you're worried about... Try a combined gun and missile mount. Like the Kashtan, but with goalkeeper\phalanx and a RAM launcher slapped on to it. Just my advice, of course I can see a few reasons why that would not be preferable..

But really. There's way too much RAM on that ship. I don't know of any ship with that much CIWS other then a few supercarriers. And those need more CIWS because their launchers normally have to be placed aside the flight deck.

Yeah, I guess... Anyways, since the hangar is much smaller then I presumed that saves up quite a bit.

From an IC point of view it's very little effort and it helps a lot; you don't have to go all Visby\Zumwalt. Solid railings, making staircases and walkways primarely covered, putting roundish stuff behind hatches, etc. Nothing too fancy, but of course, your decision. If you want to keep it like this for rule of cool that's fine too.

I got nothing to bring against rule of cool, but just so you know, at rough sea and chilly weather using the inboard staircase would of course be preferable... ;)

There is more, but I'll edit later.

Alright i'll budge :P 3 RAMs instead of 5! And I do p[refer missile CIWSes over Gun based just for the range, and Combination mounts arent out of the question, but I think they take up more space, and of course weigh more.

Chilly weather sums up most of my nation 9 months out of the year, and in the southern most areas, its always below freezing...

Ugh, alright... but that will have to be changed later, i do have other things I have to get done today!

From your image it would be 4 bow thrusters but to be honest you don't need more than 1 or 2. 4 bow thrusters would only be needed for a really big cruise liner.

Handycaping your ships versatility by skimping on soem of your VLS cells purely to enforce one particualr laod out does strike me as being a bit short sighted. It would be more understandable if there was a structural or space issue behind it but as it stands you wouldn't lose anything from going to all strike length.

ESSM is a Short to Medium range missile with the emphasis on short. its main role is to kill incoming missiles i.e. do the same job as RAM but with a little bit more range. You do indeed want both for am layer defensive scheme but with laods of ESM you would only want minimal RAM fit to mop up any leakers.

Alright, 2 bow thrusters, all Mk41 VLS switched over to strike length, and there's only 3 RAM launchers, 2 at the rear with one each covering starboard and port, and one at the front covering both sides.

I spy, I spy, with my tiny eye, both ASTER\MICA and ESSM? Now that's a waste. They both fulfull the same role.

And I don't know what the other missiles are but there are a lot of different kinds of it; are you sure some of them don't fill the very same role?

If you're expecting to face serious missile spam, you might want to step over these considerations. ;)

Btw, I got the solution to your range problems. http://www.shipbucket.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=1038

I just put them up there to say "they fit, but its up to you to make them work" I don't use them at all, but plenty of them do basically fill the same role. (took out the Aster's on the lineart)
From left to right: Harpoon, VL-ASROC, RIM-156/RIM-174, RIM-161, Tomahawk, and finally ESSM

Oh sweet! Might add those CIWSes as a variant to the RAMs

EDIT:

fun fact for the SMART-L:
Height from waterline: 21m
Radar horizon for a target 5m above the surface: 28km
Radar horizon for a target 10m above the surface: 32km
(if my calculations are correct that is)